Toyota motor show returns after 3 years of absence. Although it is rebranded as Japan Mobility Show, it is still much the same as before, showcasing the fanciest concept cars created by Japanese car makers. As expected, EV takes the center stage in this year's event, as Japanese manufacturers try to claw back the time they lost in responding slowly to the EV trend. However, what catches us a surprise is how they use sports cars to promote EV concept, and a number of these concepts have good chances to reach production.

Mazda Iconic SP concept



The most exciting in the show must be Mazda's Iconic SP concept, because it might preview the next generation (Mk4) RX-7. Mazda has been toying with the idea of using Wankel engine in EV as range-extender for some time, even putting such a powertrain into the MX-30 crossover. The idea found in Iconic SP is similar, but the execution is far more performance-oriented. Instead of a single-rotor engine, the sports car employs a twin-rotary unit like the old RX-7 and RX-8. That combines with a small battery of 17.8 kWh and a supposedly rear-axle-mounted motor, producing 370 horsepower. As the battery is so small, the car is relatively lightweight at 1450 kg, returning higher power-to-weight ratio than the Mk3 (280hp pushing 1280 kg).



Mazda said the rotary engine is mounted in the middle of the car, yet weight  distribution is around 50:50, implying the battery pack is positioned much further forward, probably under the front bonnet or in the front half of the transmission tunnel. The engine is very likely to work as solely a generator to supply power to the electric motor and recharge the battery, not driving the wheels directly, so it should be classified as a series hybrid or a PHEV with range extender. To return zero emission, it needs to drink hydrogren or carbon-neutral synthetic fuels.

The car is pretty compact, measures 4180mm long, 1850mm wide and 1150mm tall, which is shorter and lower than the Mk3, but wider and runs a much longer wheelbase at 2590mm. Sadly, no other technical details have been revealed. Company bosses decline to confirm its production prospect, but it would be foolish not to do so, considering how beautiful it looks and how exciting the concept sounds.




Toyota FT-Se concept



Meanwhile, Toyota is showing a mid-engined EV sports car which many obvservers describe as the successor to MR2. However, it is a lot larger than that. At 4380mm long, 1895mm wide and 1220mm tall, with a 2650mm wheelbase, it should be in the same class as Porsche Cayman and Lotus Emira. Moreover, the FT-Se is a pure electric car, so the battery should add hundreds of kilograms to the weight of the car thus don't expect it to be as light as the Mazda. Again, no technical details have been revealed, but it is safe to bet a rear-mounted motor driving the rear wheels only, and Toyota is very likely to equip it with a software simulating manual gearchange.




Nissan Hyper Force concept



Wow, a controversial design, looking exciting from some angles but awful from others. Looks like an exercise from design school students. The concept wants to interprete the current GT-R (R35) in a new way, which is brave. Nissan said it is a pure EV powered by solid-state batteries that the firm is developing. It offers an eye-popping 1000 kW or 1360 horsepower, distributed across all wheels. No words about production, of course, but at least it shows that Nissan is studying to build an electric successor to the GT-R.




Honda Prelude concept



Much more production-ready is this Honda 2+2 coupe, which revives the Prelude nameplate. Unfortunately, it is still dubbed as a concept and no technical specifications are available. Honda's press release talked about "full-fledged electrified future", which led to the impression of a pure EV. However, later on it clarified that the car is actually a hybrid without giving any more details. From the size of the car it looks like derived from Civic. If that's the case, then it is likely to employ a version of the Civic's e:HEV powertrain, which consists of a 2-liter naturally aspirated four, one propulsion motor and one generator, working as a series hybrid for most of the time. It should produce more power than the Civic's 184 hp output.